Chapter 603： Rurik meets Mercia for the first time

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A group of people gathered on the beach, and dozens of orange and white flags were flying.

"My lord, look." A soldier reported to Rurik.

Standing on the bow of the Aphrora, Rurik leaned forward and squinted. Although it suddenly became a little cloudy today, he could see that not only the Northumbria King's flag, but also the Ross flag.

"Good job, arrived earlier than I thought."

Rurik landed in a small boat, and Magnut and Bijuni also went ashore.

The latter two had already contemptuous attitude towards Erinred after the signing of the treaty. In the eyes of the two, the army brought by them was still a weak group, even if they were allies, they were not qualified.

After all, Ernred came with an army.

"Haha, I saw a powerful army. I didn't expect you to still have a fresh army." Rurik said something on purpose.

Einred was not happy to say anything, and smiled with a strong face: "I have tried my best to recruit troops. We are now forming a coalition to attack Mecia. But..."

"You don't have to say more." Rurik said: "I know you are worried, don't worry, I won't let you lose a lot. We must develop a set of tactics for this raid so that we won't suffer unnecessary losses."

Tactics? This concept is really unfamiliar to Erinred.

In the war, the army swarmed, the soldiers fought each other, and the victor stood in a pool of blood. The tactic that Einred knows now is to draw a scoop against the Vikings and put up a shield wall to scare people.

The Northumbrian army had traveled a long way. They were mostly exhausted, and many of them had eaten up the dry food they carried. They endured hunger and sat on the ground waiting for the next arrangements.

Rurik noticed this, and the situation was expected. His new friendly army was originally a weak group. If you expect a group of armed farmers to bravely attack the Messiah army, you should not expect too much.

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The development of the situation surprised the Northumbrian army. Almost all the fighters resisted and fought together with the Vikings. For one thing, the two sides do not have faith, and this union is really a sacrilege alliance. Secondly, they are really afraid of these sea-crossing villains. Who can guarantee that the Vikings will not shed their grit and kill the donkey?

However, they provided the food the army needed most-enough fish to satisfy everyone's hunger.

The veterans of the Northumbria Division were tired, and their makeshift camp was soon filled with the aroma of grilled fish.

This gift really puzzled Erinred.

Everyone set up an open-air military command post on the shore to discuss the next assault on the Mercia Army.

Einred first offered a polite compliment: "You don't even care about the previous complaints, but you will actually give us alms. In fact, you also..."

He wanted to say that Vikings can also be good, but he held back.

Rurik waved his hand, and motioned to Magnut not to speak yet.

But Magnuth insisted: "King Northumbria, this is a reward from this king. Our army can easily defeat new enemies, but you must send troops to help prove that you have been on the battlefield. I will not Permit my weak allies to be too hungry to walk."

Hearing this, Rurik smiled and said nothing.

Einred also smiled awkwardly, and said nothing later.

Rurik clapped his hands, "I am the commander of the army. Ernred with broken arm, now your army must obey my command."

"Yes." he said.

Hearing a boy as a conductor, Ernred was not surprised at all. It was this brat who almost beat himself up to subdue the country.

There is indeed little known about the intelligence of the Messiah Army, Rurik, but it doesn't matter. Based on the available intelligence, the Mercia King Wigraf recently destroyed the riverside barracks in Northumbria, which happened only a few days ago.

The Messiah army may attack Roydis City. Since there are some Northumbrian army defenses there, Rurik doesn't need to care about them.

Although Einred mentioned this issue, Rurik bluntly pointed out the main points of the tactics.

The so-called tactic is that the army will directly attack Dole Village (Sheffield) along the river. If the main force of Mercia is still there, a decisive battle will be carried out.

It would be better if they went north. The coalition forces directly attacked Lindsay Cheng (the main city of Lincolnshire) along another river, plundering the surrounding area.

Victory must belong to the coalition forces, and the follow-up of the battle will inevitably end in the plunder of the Lindsay area. The reason is quite simple. Right now, in the bay where the Ross Balmerk fleet is located, a nearby river that enters the sea is upstream, which is able to reach Lindsay City, and this area is very close to the sea, making it easy for the army to load and pull the looted materials. go.

First fight Dole Village, and seek a decisive battle with the main force of Mesiah. If it is empty, the army goes straight into Lindsay City to induce the Mercia army to come to a decisive battle.

"Is it still possible to fight like this?" Einred understood Rurik's tactics. He felt that it was very inappropriate, and he was still worried that the Messiah Army was approaching Roydis.

Rurik was full of confidence and didn't want to talk nonsense with Erinred at all. Seeing Magnut also had something to say.

"You still think my decision is too bold? I admit that there is a gamble. It doesn't matter, our ship moves extremely fast. For the infantry, it takes five days to complete it in one day."

Rurik glanced at Ernred again: "If you still feel worried, we robbed Lindsay, and then rushed to the royal city of Mercia. I heard the captive said that the river can lead to Lindsay and move on. You can reach Tamworth, the royal city of Mecia. Anyway, their king is not in the capital, and we are also very good at attacking cities. Are you complaining that your kingdom has become smaller? Why don't you think that you can be the king of Mecia?"

This is a possibility that Ernred had never imagined. I have to say that Rurik, a Viking boy, made this unrealistic fantasy suddenly possible.

"Then act exactly as you decide. I'm willing to listen to your command." Einred said respectfully. This obedience is definitely from the heart. Magnut and Biyuni can see this clearly, and I am really surprised. different.

In fact, the two of them still don't understand, but Rurik gave a spree to the desolate Einred this time. Northumbria has lost a large area of ​​land, and gnawed a large piece from Mercia. Isn't it just the limit for one? What did he lose in the end?

Based on Rurik’s arrangement, the soldiers of Northumbria were authorized to ride on the ships of the Rus.

Those armed cargo ships deliberately empty can be turned into troop carriers, five ships carrying five hundred Northumbrian fighters. They were ordered to unarm and enter the enclosed cabin, as if carrying a herd of livestock.

They were temporarily confiscated with weapons and became a group of unarmed people.

As for the others, with a small number of cavalry, they walked westward along the Don River and went straight to the village of Dole.

The coalition began to pull out the next morning, and the coalition of Ross, Balmerk and Northumbria began to attack.

The total strength of the coalition forces is as many as 5,000, of course, this is only 5,000 on the books.

The main forces of the army are naturally the Ross Army and the Balmerk Army. Except for the five hundred Northumbrian fighters who are allowed to board the ship, the remaining half of the so-called fighters are equivalent to the atmosphere group.

The wind direction and narrow waterways are quite detrimental to the large ships of the fleet, and Lurik used the old method to make the long rowing boats lead them forward.

The Aphrora was towed by four long boats, and the other sail destroyers, except for the Mercury, only needed two long boats to be towed against the current.

The current of the Don River was so soothing that the Mercury could advance against the current with a human propeller, but she still needed a long boat to tow it.

Einred was invited to stand on the flagship of the fleet. He never thought that he could take this kind of big ship at zero distance. She was like a house on the surface of the water, and it must be so. This group of barbarians can destroy from a distant place. Own kingdom.

Wait a minute! How can they be considered barbarians if they can build such a behemoth? There are legends that the Romans would build big ships a long time ago, but now these techniques are limited to legends. However, his own kingdom can only build some tiny ships, and there is no fleet on par with the Vikings in Britain as a whole.

Going along the river is only a relatively smooth road. In terms of speed, can it be as fast as a boat?

Einred felt that this fleet of long-snake formations was about to catch up with horseback riding! From the estuary of the river to the village of Dole in the interior, it was indeed a daytime journey. He had to estimate that if the Messiaians were still living in Dole, then when the blood-red sunset hung on the skyline, the Vikings and His own army was killed.

They kept advancing along the Don River, and soon left behind the Northumbrian soldiers who were advancing on foot.

The coalition forces are really nameless, if a decisive battle, the main force will still be the Vikings. Although Ernred was a little uncomfortable, he didn't want the glory of defeating Mesiah to be taken away by the strangers who crossed the sea, and he had to lead his troops to the battle no matter what. But he didn't want that. He was afraid that his own people would suffer a large number of casualties, which would make the already weak national strength even worse.

Since the Vikings want to kill, let them go and do it!

Einred made a psychological struggle, but decided to continue to sit on the mountain and watch the tiger fight in humiliation. It’s also good to see how the Vikings manipulated their terrifying arrows, and then watch their infantry operations up close, so that they can quietly keep in mind and imitate them in the future.

It is impossible for the Messiae army to have no defense against a huge army incarnation of the inland river fleet.

After all, Mesiah is still a traditional landlocked country. Their military movement is slow, and even there is no serious cavalry unit in the country, and their overall mobility is quite limited.

After the victory in Dole Village, the army must take a good rest.

Continue north to attack Roydis? Earl Lindsay and King Wigraf both had this intention, but in the face of reality, they and other generals together, this matter really can't be done this year.

Because Wigraf stayed for a long time near the village of Dole. Although this is the border, the local area is actually the Count of Peksat. Some of the materials used to maintain the stationing of the Kingdom of Mercia and the Count of Lindsay are Peksat. The earl paid.

How many years has Messia been restored? What's more, Decades ago, the Earl of Peksat was the territory of Northumbria. Even if the ruler is replaced by a noble of the Mercia lineage, many people will not reject the rule of Northumbria again. But the people must pay a lot of taxes to keep the king's master stationed near his home.

Count Peksat is already obviously stubborn. Although he is related to King Mercia, this war is consuming the resources of his fief, which involves economic problems, and naturally he gradually slackened.

Count Peksat was grinding foreign workers. Not only has the reinforcements been delayed, but the delivery of supplies to the king's division has also stopped recently.

Therefore, for King Wigraf, he also had some helplessness in his raid on Dole Village. This time, he seized the materials from the Northumbria barracks and alleviated some of his army's problems. However, if he continued to conquer, it would be insufficient stamina.

The Messiah Army was stationed at the enemy's military camp on the opposite bank of the Don River. According to the brand-new plan, Wiglav decided to spend it until the fall of winter. If the Northumbrian army came to challenge at this moment, he would not hesitate to fight a decisive battle. If the decisive battle does not occur, it will continue until next spring, and use one winter to store food, supplies and troops, and then attack Roydis to have a chance of winning.

They completely ignored the information about the Viking invasion. When a group of approaching ships suddenly appeared on the calm Don River, the entire camp was shocked.

It was the evening when Wigraf, who had already planned to rest, was taken aback by the guard who broke into the camp.

"Presumptuous! What makes you so alarmed?!"

The guard was already trembling, pointing his right hand in a direction, and his whole person was terrified.

"Your Majesty! Big ship! Very many big ships! They are moving towards us."

"That's it? Ridiculous!" Wigraf hurriedly put on his boots and walked outdoors, and saw the fleet of ships illuminated by the sunset.

"Who is this? Is it the enemy? Or is it an ally?" Wiggrave trembles first, then yells, but what he responds to is the projectile from the torsion slingshot.

At the same time, aboard the Aphrodite.

Rurik asked Einred: "The front is your barracks? It's all occupied by the enemy? I can't see your flag, it's all weird...well, the style is a bit like mine."

The flag of the King of Mercia and the flag of the Russian Principality are both simple and simple with diagonal lines staggered. Naturally, the meaning behind them has no similarities.

"It's true, I implore you to attack indiscriminately, kill them, and help me get revenge." Einred said viciously.

"No! This is not revenge for you, you are not worthy. This is just a new war, now look at my performance."

Einredben felt that the Vikings would disembark immediately and sweep the occupied Dole village barracks like a flood.

He is very satisfied with the current results. Fortunately, the Messiaians are here, and there is the king flag of Wiglav flying there. Everything was guessed right by the Viking boy, Rülik. I am afraid that the battle under the sunset may be necessary. Was the life of Wigrave.

However, the Vikings' fighting style shocked him, the big thing on the ship's gunwale covered by linen was actually a bow!

The torsion slingshot is charged, cast iron projectiles are installed, and then there is a splendid launch.

With the enemy in front, the Aphrora and most of the ships are firing projectiles at the frontal enemy at the maximum elevation angle.

Almost all of the torsion slingshots are used, and they are launched freely, forming a terrible "hail".

From the perspective of the fleet, since the Don River is almost east-west in the current section, the ship is advancing against the blood-red sunset, and everyone on board can hardly see the effect of the projectile strike.

In fact, in the army camps of the Messiah on both sides of the river, the sudden iron hail hit some soldiers to their heads for the first time.

Can you kill the enemy at such a long distance? These weapons refreshed Ernred's cognition. What's more sad is that the heavy weapon is right in front of him, but he can't understand its operation far away.

The Messiah barracks fell into chaos, and Wigraf watched eagerly at a warrior in the distance who was smashed to the head by a weapon, and the red and white things splashed on him, and he was immediately scared and screamed.

The guards are holding the mandarin shields with iron skins to protect Wiggrave. Now there is no need to hesitate, the battle has just begun!

He couldn't see the enemy's face at all, and his army suffered losses, but what was worse than casualties was that the army fell into chaos. The brave fighters of the past are escaping for their lives, because chain mail and ordinary shields have no resistance at all to the "rocks" that are suddenly dropped. They are frantically looking for solid objects to be a turtle with a shrunken head.

This was not over yet, as the ship approached, there was a sudden whoosh from the sky.

At this moment, Einred saw many Vikings who held strange flat bows and started shooting arrows again. He clearly saw the mass projectile of the wooden-armed crossbow, admiring and envious, as well as unforgettable hatred.

Arrows fell one after another, and the Mercia Army had never seen such a dense range of long-range weapons strikes. As the chaos intensified, Wigraf shouted: "Guards! Send each other me across the river immediately!"

He caught several guards and ordered them to pass the king's order, and ordered all soldiers in Dole Village to withdraw to the other side of the river, and then to the distant forest, to avoid being killed by suspicious enemies.

Wigraf was on the run. People saw the pontoon on the river flying the king's flag. The king's retreat order was given, and all the soldiers running around had a clear direction to flee.

They flocked to the narrow pontoon made up of rafts and began to cross the river urgently. Those who accidentally fell into the water also swam wildly across the river.

Wigraf slipped away, but it was too late for the Count Lindsay who accidentally became a defender.

The vanguard’s long ships deliberately ran aground, and the Balmerk Viking warriors disembarked fiercely, brandishing their swords and axes to the enemy ahead, and slashing and killing with the slogan "Blood Sacrifice Odin"...